peachy perspective

After months of training and countless conversations revolving around running routes, helpful tips, and needed encouragement, the big day finally came.

The weather forcasters were right – it rained in the AM hours. I woke up at 3:30am to thunder, lightning, and a downpour. I prayed and prayed for the Lord to stop the rain come marathon time. I knew it would be completely miserable for me and thousands of others to run in the pouring rain with no one to cheer for us along the way. I am totally sure it would have made me swear off running for the rest of my life. Reality and sadness were beginning to creep in as I drove to Nashville up the interstate, but I really did know that it would stop raining. Guess what? It did. The weather come race time was fantastic. It may seem so minor, but I still can’t get over how the Lord heard mine and others’ prayers and tangibly provided for us all to make it a more enjoyable experience.

I thought I was going to be really nervous right before the race and would have to go use those gross port-a-potties about 5 times, but thankfully I saw familiar faces and started the race with my friend Meggie. Though I had trained for months by myself, starting this big race with a friend was the best! Since we were in corral 25, we finally crossed the start line 50 minutes after the Kenyans took off on their 5-minute mile foot race – no hope of catching them. After I crossed the line, there was no going back – especially after the News Channel 2 cameras got Meggie and I on film and used it in their news segments! OH YES!

Off we went on a tour of Nashville …

• Part 2: The 13.1
• Part 3: The End